MALTESE DALLI WRAPS MEPS AROUND HIS FINGER.

• Position: John Dalli

At his hearing, on 14 January, it was obvious that the Commissioner-designate for Health and Consumer Policy, Maltese John Dalli, had plenty of political experience. Dalli was able to answer all the questions flawlessly. He even made the MEPs laugh and clap their hands on several occasions. Wrapping the MEPs around his fingers, Dalli knew exactly the kind of answers they wanted to hear on several politically sensitive issues, such as what action the European Commission would take on animal cloning and in which direction the Commission would move with the directive on cross-border health care. According to Conservative MEP Malcom Harbour (UK), his performance was "very impressive". Harbour said after the session, "You can definitely tell he has served in a cabinet for several years".

Talking to MEPs, Dalli promised to "put patients and consumers first". According to him, the fact that he has been a cabinet member in his home country would prove useful in his new job. "I will bring my consensus-building experience and the...